"At risk" children prompt new role for States chief

Tuesday 20 February 2018

Government officials have said that children are “still at risk” in Jersey, but are so far declining to reveal any further details as to exactly what the problem is.

In an official announcement, the Chief Minister’s Department said that the States new CEO Charlie Parker had now been given responsibility for children’s services because, along with the new Children’s Commissioner, they were worried that the recommendations of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry weren’t being implemented quickly enough, and therefore children in the States' care “may still be at risk.”

They blasted the "pace of change" as "too slow."

But a spokesperson for the department declined to say exactly what was taking too long, which areas of Children’s Services were affected, or what the risks to children might now be: “The Children’s Commissioner and the Chief Executive have separately visited teams, met staff, viewed facilities and reviewed reports on progress, and reached the joint view that, despite the many improvements that have already been made, children may still be at risk. The Chief Minister acted swiftly in response to their assessment.

“We will not be providing further details of the specific areas and issues that were reviewed and discussed.” 

Pictured: Charlie Parker, the new States' CEO, will now be responsible for Children's Services.

Although the areas of the Children’s Services affected remain unclear, the Chief Minister Senator Ian Gorst said that the problems facing it would need “firm and committed leadership” to resolve.

That leadership will come in the form of Charlie Parker, the States’ new Chief Executive. He has previous experience working with children’s, with the service he ran in his previous role in Westminster gaining an ‘outstanding’ rating from Education inspectorate Ofsted. Another service he ran during his time working in Oldham was ranked among England’s top six. 

Senator Gorst said that Mr Parker’s appointment would ensure that children get “the quality of care they deserve.” 

The government’s increased focus on children’s welfare comes following the damning Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report, which was published last July.

The report came after a three-year investigation into serious failings in the childcare and fostering system from the 1940s to 2010s.

Pictured: The infamous Haut de la Garenne children's home was at the centre of the inquiry - its future is now being considered by the States.

As well as specific criticisms of the former Home Affairs, Education and Children’s Services departments, the report – penned by Frances Oldham QC – was a savage indictment of the way Jersey looked after vulnerable children.

It showed how reported cases of abuse were not followed up for fear of damaging reputations, and picked out a number of residential, educational and correctional institutions for their failure to look after – and in some cases the emotional and sexual abuse of – the island’s youngest residents.

One of the most notorious was Haut de la Garenne, which now operates as a popular recreational centre for tourists and young people. Its future is currently being considered by the States, after the inquiry panel recommended that it be demolished.